THE ENGLISH AND THE DUTCH TRIUMPH OVER SPAIN
CRUEL TREATMENT OF THE NETHERLANDERS. Two years after the cruel
massacre of the Huguenot colony in Florida, Philip II, the King of
Spain, decided to put an end to the obstinacy of the Netherlanders, and
sent an army from Spain commanded by the Duke of Alva, who was as
pitiless as Menendez. Alva began by seizing prominent nobles, and he
would have arrested the Prince of Orange, but he escaped into Germany. A
court was set up which condemned many persons to death, including the
greatest nobles of the land. The people nicknamed it the Council of
Blood. Alva also turned the merchants against him by compelling them to
pay the "tenth penny," that is, one tenth of the price of the goods
every time these were either bought or sold. Alva made himself so
thoroughly hated that even Philip decided to call him back to Spain.
THE BEGGARS OF THE SEA. Just then something happened which gave
Coligny and the Huguenots their chance for vengeance. The men who were
resisting the king's officers in the Netherlands had been nicknamed the
"Beggars." When they were driven from the cities they took to the sea.
The "Beggars of the Sea" sometimes found a port of refuge in La
Rochelle, a Huguenot town on the western coast of France, and sometimes
they put into friendly English harbors. From these places they would
sail out and attack Spanish vessels. When Queen Elizabeth in 1572
ordered a fleet of these "Beggars" to leave, they crossed over to their
own shores and drove the Spanish garrison out of Brille. This success
encouraged the Dutch and many of the southern Netherlanders to rise and
expel the Spanish soldiers from their towns.
THE FRENCH PROMISE AID. As soon as Coligny heard the news he urged
the French king to send an army into the Netherlands and take vengeance
not only for the massacre at Fort Caroline, but also for all the wrongs
that he and his father and his grandfather had ever received at the
hands of the Spaniards. The French king agreed and wrote a letter to the
Netherlanders promising aid.
[Illustration: GASPARD DE COLIGNY After the portrait in the
Public Library, Geneva]
MASSACRE OF HUGUENOTS IN PARIS. The plan was never carried out.
While Coligny and many other Huguenots were in Paris, his enemies
attempted to kill him. When the attempt failed these enemies, including
the king's mother, persuaded the king that Coligny and the Huguenots
were plotting against him, and goaded the king into ordering the murder
of all the Huguenots in Paris and the other cities of France. Thousands
of Huguenots perished. When the Netherlanders heard of what had befallen
Coligny and his followers, they were crushed with grief. Coligny had
missed the chance of vengeance. But the Spanish king was soon to have
other enemies besides the Huguenots who were ready to help the Dutch.
These new enemies were the English.
THE ENGLISH DRAWN INTO THE CONFLICT. The religious troubles in
England had been growing more serious. Two or three plots were made to
assassinate Elizabeth in order to put on the throne Queen Mary of
Scotland, who was the next heir. Philip began to encourage these
plotters, especially after the pope in 1570 had excommunicated Elizabeth
and forbidden her subjects to obey her as queen. She was sure to be
dragged into the struggle in the Netherlands sooner or later. We have
seen that she had once sheltered the "Beggars of the Sea." The murder of
Coligny and his followers frightened the English and made many of them
anxious to join in the conflict before their friends on the Continent,
the French Huguenots and the Dutch Calvinists, were utterly destroyed.
GROWTH OF ENGLISH TRADE. If England should be drawn into war, her
safety would depend mainly upon her ships. Englishmen had always taken
to the sea, as was natural for men whose shores were washed by the
Atlantic, the Channel and the North Sea, but they were slow in building
fleets of ships either for trade or for war. The trade of the country
with other peoples in the Middle Ages was carried on mostly by
foreigners. Yet since the days of Elizabeth's father and grandfather a
change had taken place. English merchants found their way to all
markets. They also made new things to sell. Refugees driven by the
religious troubles from France and the Netherlands brought their skill
to England and taught the English how to weave fine woolens and silks.
THE NEW ENGLISH NAVY. The English navy was growing. One of the new
ships, _The Triumph_, carried 450 seamen, 50 gunners, and 200 soldiers.
Besides harquebuses for the soldiers, there were many kinds of cannon
with strange names, such as culverins, falconets, sakers, serpentines,
and rabinets. Four of the cannon were large enough to shoot a
cannon-ball eight inches in diameter. But it was on the skill and
courage of her men rather than upon the size of her ships that England
relied for victory.
[Illustration: SIR FRANCIS DRAKE After the painting at Buckland
Abby, England]
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. One of these men was Francis Drake. He was son
of a chaplain in the navy and as a boy played in the rigging of the
great ships-of-war, as other boys play in the streets. In time young
Drake was apprenticed to the skipper of a small trading vessel. Fortune
smiled on the lad early in life. His master died, and out of love for
the apprentice who had served him so well, left him the vessel. Francis
Drake became thus a shipmaster on his own account, and in time the most
popular of Queen Elizabeth's sea-captains.
SLAVE-TRADERS. He often went with his cousin, John Hawkins, on
voyages to Africa. They bought negro slaves from slave-traders along the
coast, or kidnaped negroes whom they found, and carried them to the
Spanish planters of the West Indies. Hawkins and Drake were as devout
and humane as other men of their time. They simply could not see any
wrong in enslaving the heathen black men in Africa. Besides, they
enjoyed the wild life of the slave-trader with its dangers and
rich rewards.
WHY DRAKE HATED THE SPANIARDS. The king of Spain tried to keep the
trade in slaves for his own merchants, and attempted to prevent the
trade of the English slavers with the West Indies. Spanish ships-of-war
ruined one of the voyages from which Hawkins and Drake hoped for large
profits. The Spaniards won thereby the undying hatred of Drake.
THE DRAGON OF THE SEAS. It was a time, too, when Drake's countrymen
at home shared his intense hatred of the Spaniard. While England and
Spain were not at war with one another, English and Spanish traders
fought whenever they met on the high seas. The English made the Spanish
settlements in America their special prey. At certain times of the year
Spanish ships, called government ships, carried to Spain gold and
silver--the royal share of the products of America. Drake, like many
another of his countrymen, lay in wait to rob these ships of their
precious cargoes. He managed to gather a fortune by his cunning and
courage. More than once he was forced to bury his treasures in the sand
to lighten his ships that they might sail the faster, and escape his
pursuers. The Spaniards came to know and to fear Drake as the Dragon
of the Seas.
[Illustration: SPANISH TREASURE SHIP]
DRAKE'S VENTURE. Drake once formed the plan to take a fleet into
the Pacific Ocean in order to plunder the treasure ships where they
would be less on their guard. A fleet of five ships was made ready.
Contributions from wealthy merchants and powerful nobles, perhaps a gift
from Queen Elizabeth herself, gave him the means for unusual luxuries in
the equipment of his fleet. Skilful musicians and rich furniture were
taken on board Drake's own ship, the _Pelican_, or the _Golden Hind_ as
he afterwards christened it. The brilliant little fleet left Plymouth in
1577. One after another of the ships turned back or was destroyed on the
long voyage of twelve months across the Atlantic and through the Strait
of Magellan.
BEYOND THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. The _Golden Hind_ alone remained to
carry out the original project. As it entered the Pacific Ocean a furious
storm drove the little vessel southward beyond Cape Horn to the regions
where the oceans meet. No one before had sailed so far south.
THE FIRST PRIZES. Drake regained control of his ship when the storm
had passed, and sailed northward along the coast, plundering and robbing
as he went. Once, as a land-party was searching along the shore for
fresh water, it came upon a Spaniard asleep with thirteen bars of silver
beside him. His nap was disturbed long enough to take away his burden.
Further on they met another Spaniard and an Indian boy driving a train
of Peruvian sheep laden with eight hundred pounds of silver. The
Englishmen took their place, and merrily drove the sheep to their boats.
A treasure ship, nicknamed the _Spitfire_, on the way to Panama, was
captured after a long chase of nearly eight hundred miles. Drake
obtained from it unknown quantities of gold and silver. With such a rich
load, his thoughts turned to the homeward voyage.
DRAKE'S VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD. By this time a host of Spanish
war-ships were on Drake's track. They expected to capture him on his
return through the Strait of Magellan. Drake, now confronted with real
danger, cunningly outwitted his enemies. He and many other Englishmen of
his day were sure a passage would be found somewhere through North
America between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Spanish, French, and
English explorers had all carried on the search for this passage. Drake
decided to return by such a route, if it were possible. He followed the
coast of California, and probably passed that of Oregon and Washington
as far as Vancouver
[Illustration: MAP OF DRAKE'S VOYAGE]
When it grew colder and the coast turned to the westward, he gave up the
search.
After making some needed repairs in a small harbor a few miles above the
modern San Francisco, Drake set out boldly across the Pacific to return
home, as Magellan's men had done before him, by going around the world.
He touched at the Philippines, visited the Spice Islands, and slowly
worked his way around the Cape of Good Hope. The _Golden Hind_, long
since given up as lost, reached England in the fall of 1580, after
nearly three years' absence. For a second time a ship had sailed around
the world. Drake was the first Englishman to gain the honor.
DRAKE'S REWARD. Queen Elizabeth liked the story Drake told of
outwitting and plundering Spaniards. Arrayed in her most gorgeous robes
she visited his ship, where a banquet had been prepared. While Drake
knelt at her feet she made him a knight. And so it was that the man whom
the Spaniards called with good reason the Master Thief of the Seas, the
English called by a new title, Sir Francis Drake, and praised as the
greatest sea-captain of the age. His ship, the _Golden Hind_, was
ordered to be preserved forever.
THE DUTCH STRUGGLE AGAINST SPAIN. A few years after Drake returned
the English took a deeper interest in the struggle between Philip and
the Dutch. Although the Dutch had lost hope of help from the French
Huguenots, they resisted Philip's generals more boldly than ever. The
Spanish soldiers treated the towns which surrendered so savagely that
the other towns decided it was better to die fighting than to yield. The
siege of Leyden became famous because, after food had given out and the
inhabitants were starving their friends cut the great dikes in order
that the boats of the "Beggars of the Sea" loaded with provisions might
be floated up to the very walls of the city. This unexpected flood also
drove away the Spaniards. Fortunately after the rescue of the city a
strong wind arose and drove back the waves so that the dikes could again
be replaced.
[Illustration: QUEEN ELIZABETH MAKING DRAKE A KNIGHT]
THE DEATH OF WILLIAM OF ORANGE. King Philip had come to the
conclusion that unless William of Orange were killed the Dutch could not
be conquered, and so he put a price on Prince William's head, offering a
large sum of money to any one who should kill him. The first attempts
failed, but finally in 1584 he was shot.
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. The murder of William alarmed the English for
Elizabeth's life, especially as Philip had already aided men who were
plotting against her. She sent an army into the Netherlands to aid the
Dutch, although she had not made up her mind to attack Philip directly.
The army did not give much help to the Dutch, but it is remembered
because a noble English poet, Sir Philip Sidney, was mortally wounded in
one of the battles. The story is told that while Sidney was riding back,
tortured by his wound, he became very thirsty, as wounded men always do,
and begged for a drink of water. Looking up when it was brought to him
he saw on the ground a common soldier more sorely wounded than he. He
immediately sent the water to the soldier saying, "Thy necessity is
greater than mine."
THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA. The king of Spain now decided that he could
not subdue the Dutch until he had thoroughly punished the English. He
even planned to put himself upon the English throne, claiming that he
was the heir of one of the early kings of England. Months were spent in
preparing a great fleet, an "Invincible Armada" which was to sail up the
Channel, take on board the Spanish army in the Netherlands, and cross
over to England. While these preparations were being made with Philip's
usual care, Sir Francis Drake swooped down on Cadiz and burnt so much
shipping and destroyed so many supplies that the voyage had to be
postponed a year. This Drake called "singeing the king of
Spain's beard."
THE ARMADA IN THE CHANNEL. It was July, 1588, before the
"Invincible Armada" appeared off Plymouth in the English Channel. Many
of the Spanish ships were larger than the English ships, but they were
so clumsy that the English could outsail them and attack them from any
direction they chose. Moreover, the Spaniards needed to fight close at
hand in order that the soldiers armed with ordinary guns might join in
the fray. The English kept out of range of these guns and used their
heavy cannon.
[Illustration: THE SPANISH ARMADA IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL After
an engraving by the Society of Antiquarians following a tapestry in the
House of Lords]
DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMADA. With the English ships clinging to the
flanks and rear of the Armada, the Spaniards moved heavily up the
Channel. In the narrower waters between Dover and Calais the English
attacked more fiercely, and sank several Spanish vessels. Soon the
others were fleeing into the North Sea, driven by a furious gale. Many
sought to reach Spain by sailing around Scotland and Ireland, and some
of these ships were dashed on the rocky shores. Only a third of Philip's
proud fleet returned to Spain.
EFFECT OF THE DEFEAT OF THE ARMADA ON SPAIN. This was the last
attempt Philip made to attack the English, because Spain had been
exhausted in the effort to collect money and supplies for the Invincible
Armada. The war dragged on for many years, and the English attacked and
plundered Spanish vessels wherever they found them.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE DUTCH. The ruin of the Armada also meant
that the Dutch would succeed in becoming independent of the Spanish
king. Seven of the northern provinces had already formed a union and had
begun to call themselves the United Netherlands. They were growing
richer while their neighboring provinces on the south, which had decided
to return to their allegiance to Spain, grew poorer.
FIRST VOYAGE OF THE DUTCH TO THE EAST. Even while the fight was
going on the Dutch traded in places where Philip had not permitted them
to trade while he could control them. One of these places was Lisbon,
the capital of Portugal. Here the Dutch obtained spices which the
Portuguese brought from the East Indies. But in 1580 Philip seized
Portugal, and the Dutch could no longer go to Lisbon. This made them
anxious to find their way to the East. In 1595 the first fleet set out.
This voyage was unsuccessful, but other fleets followed, until soon the
Dutch had almost driven the Portuguese, now subjects of the king of
Spain, from the Spice Islands. Soon also Dutch sailors ventured across
the Atlantic to the shores of America.
QUESTIONS
1. What country in northern Europe did Spain rule? What name was
given to those who resisted the Spanish officers in the Netherlands?
Why were they given this name?
2. What promise did Coligny make to the people of the Netherlands?
Why was he unable to carry it out? What other people were ready to
help the Dutch? Can you give one reason at least why the English
were willing to help the Dutch against Spain?
3. Why had English trade grown important? Did this help to make a
navy?
4. Why did English sailors like Drake specially hate the Spaniards?
What was Drake's method of making a living? How did he come to go
around the world in 1577-1580? How long was it since Magellan made
his voyage?
5. What did the English think of Drake? What did the Spaniards think
of him? Why did each people think as it did?
6. Why did Philip of Spain have William of Orange killed? Why did
this make the conquest of the Dutch even harder?
7. Why did Philip, king of Spain, try to conquer England and make
himself king of that country? How did he try to carry out his plan?
Why were the English victorious in the great battle with the Armada?
Where was the battle fought?
8. How did the defeat of the Armada affect Spain's war in the
Netherlands? Did all of the Netherlands become independent of Spain?
9. What trade did the Dutch begin to carry on before their war with
Spain ended?
10. What new people became rivals of the Spaniards and French for
trade and settlements in America?
EXERCISES
1. What parts of North America did Drake visit on his famous voyage
around the world?
2. What effect did the quarrels in Europe described in Chapters 19
and 20 have upon the progress in exploring and settling America?
3. Find out whether the people of the northern Netherlands and the
southern Netherlands are still separate countries to-day.